The international law firm Nixon Peabody has hired Douglas Dziak as counsel at its Washington office.

Most recently, Dziak was a legislative director and chief counsel to then-Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) and general counsel to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

“In addition to great skill in advocacy, negotiation and coalition-building, Doug brings a keen understanding of the Senate which supports the existing team’s strengths,” said Thomas Reynolds, head of Nixon Peabody’s government relations and public policy team.

Before his stint on Capitol Hill, Dziak worked at two other D.C.-area law firms. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ohio University and a law degree from the College of William and Mary.

Chamber Foundation names a new VP

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s National Chamber Foundation has named Richard Cooper vice president of research and emerging issues.

Cooper is a principal with the Washington-based government and public affairs firm Catalyst Partners, for which he advises clients on homeland and national security issues. He’s also chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Homeland Security Division.

“While the Chamber is busy working on the issues immediately impacting businesses, Rich is going to make sure we are prepared and informed for the issues that are coming down the road,” said Al Martinez-Fonts, executive vice president of the Chamber’s Forum for Policy Innovation, which oversees the foundation.

Before joining Catalyst, Cooper was a business liaison director for the Department of Homeland Security’s Private Sector Office and a senior policy adviser at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and religion from the University of Mary Washington.